River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-06-09

front yard converted into q tropica
jungle, in which peacocks. birds ofpar
adise. and new bonnets of elegan
plumage, stood in line upon the Limbs
of the trees and poured forth their joyi
in melodious roulades and thrilling
roundelays.
1t was the hour of night.
Mrs. Gallaher's face had sunk in il
soft pillows and her rosy features wer,
wrapped in a lace bonnet de mutt
which came down over her ears ant
shut out all earthly sounds. Ii haG
cherry ribbon strings tied under hel
chin. All was still with one exception,
which was Gallaher. At regular in
tervals he snored defiance to the Eng
lish throne. of which he dreamed.
Suddenly upon the stiffness came a
long. loud, blood-curdling scream thai
made the windows rattle. II was awful.
What's that?' cried Gallaher.
starting up.
What Is it. Dennis?" asked Mrs.
Gallaher. awakening and scared.
'.C-a-w-h-O-r-r-r-k :
The HORRIBLE scream was repeated.
Gallaher sprang To the floor.
..Dennis-Oi-Oi'n choke 10 death wild
discriminating. Mrs. Gallaher was
spluttering with terror She had pull
eel bonnet de nuIt strings into hard
knot and was strangling.
How'd yure jaw. will Oo?" said
Gallaher angrily. He was listening in
tently.
The string parted and freed her ears
She listened. too. still scared.
''Musha, | hope it not wan o thin
hurrah away murders.
He has no made to cut her troat an
noight like this" said Gallaher.
shivering in his nigh;Eow ..Av he
howlds her stil she'll freeze quick
enough.
'CawhorTk,-
II came again. He grabbed his socks
and drew on histrOuSers. As he pulled
on his coat he looked out of the front
window, and by the light of the street
lamp saw George Washington Willard
IN front of the house and looking up
al the windows. Instantly angry. he
few down stairs and opened the front
door.
Aha, said he savagely, by way of
greeting.
"Heah, Posey. Come heah.7 said
Mr. Willard wooingly to the pug dog
which had followed him over. He pre-
tended not to see Mr.. Gallaher
is It watchin' me crash grow We
are2" asked Gallaher sarcastically.
Nice doggie; good doggie, said the
other, patting it,
What dcye mane?" demanded Gal
laher, going down the walk.
Subterfuge was useless
Il came over. sab, )" said Mr.. Willard
in precise tones. because | heard
shriek>. sab. in your domicile. sab.
thought recognized your wife's voice
sab.
..Howly Mary ejaculatded Mrs.
Gallaher from the upper window. '.Do
that black naygur say me vice is ike
that2"
This was too much. II could not be
left to Dennis to adjust. She threw on
her petJicOats hurriedly.
Meanwhile the seriousness of the
occasion had caused suspension of
hoStilities between the men. They
agreed that il was evidently the murder
of some woman in the vacant lot in the
rear Of Gallaher's wagon house. Wis
ions of gore and bloody knives made
Gal.aher indiSposed TO inve>ti-
gate it by himself. particularly in his
defenceless condition. He invited Mil
lard to accompany him, and the latter
accepted The two men, followed by
the pug, passed on tiptOe along the
alleywav at the side of the house.
crossed the yard and approached the
wagon house. through which they
would pass to the lot.
The minute he opened I c door
something came Tapping against him
out of the darkness. scratched his face,
and knocked him down. 1t was the
peacock trying to get cut. Gallaher
was little ratified anyhow. He had
forgotten the bird. and he yelled with
fright Is he scrambled to his feet and
ran across theyard. Willard and the pug
had been there some seconds when he
arrived He looked savagely At Mil
lard To detect the taintest smile. If he
had seen one he would have killed him
on the spot.
Its me paycock, he said hoarsely,
aud he said no more, but there was
blood in his eve.
He found lantern and lighted it.
Then he went back and opened tho
door carefully. The pug aching for
destruction. spicd the peacock.
..BroO-oO,'' croakcd he. with the
coarse bark peculiar to puGS.
..Cawhorrkr screamed the bird de
family
PoSev abandoned his strategic ad-
vantage between his owners legs and
uncourteously flew at it. The peacock,
glad to meet something it could whip
met him half way. II struck with its
spurs. anu. hitting with its wings.
Knocked the dog over. Posey ezaualled
with terror and lay paralyzed. while
Robert Emmett pecked him viciously.
stop him, Stop him. cried
Mr.. Willard.
let EN- alone" yelled Gallaher.
Mr.. Willard. fearful for his pet,
grabbed the peacock. Then he struck
al him with 4 stick. Then Gallaher' :
pent-up Utica gave way and he acted.
He was mad anyhow. He would
have given $40 if Willard had hit him
instead Of the fowl. The accumulated
anger Of wears spurred his right femOral
muscles when he kicked. If he had
not hit his mark he would have broken
his leg. If he had his boot ON he would
have broken Mr.. Willard in two. As
il was. his foot struck Mr.. Willard
amidships like a locomotive. and knock
ed him five feet. face downward, on top
of the peacock.
The bird screamed, POsey squalled,
and the men rolled over and over on
the floor. Mr. Willard was no SLOUGH.
His mouth was fun of feathers. but he
had courage. and the battle was hot and
sanguinary. Reinforcement for the
Irish champion arrived in the shape of
/ Mrs. Gallaher. who. with handy show
FL. was about to cleave Mr.. Willard :
skull when the policeman grabbed it..
/ At the sight of him she tainted dead
away in his arms. and he dropped her.
Then he pulled the men apart
Here, This won't DO, gentlemen.
I &c said.
IN have no pug dargs in me neigh
I borhoOd. screamed Gallaher. with